Tweaks are small adjustments or changes you can make to a system to improve performance or
eliminate annoyances.
Adobe Reader 7.0 (formerly known as Acrobat Reader) recently became available. However, it doesn't fix Adobe Reader's biggest problem. Its slooooow. On older computers, it can take almost a minute to load. Removing many of the plug-ins and changing a few preferences will dramatically improve Reader's load time. Here's how to do it:
- Install Adobe Reader 7.0
- Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\plug_ins
- Rename the plug_ins folder to plug_ins_backup
- Create a new folder named plug_ins in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\
- Copy these files from plug_ins_disabled to plug_ins: EWH32.api, printme.api, and search.api
- Optionally, also copy reflow.api and search5.api to the new plug_ins directory. You can copy other plugins if you need them in the future.
- Start Adobe Reader. Startup time should be cut by a third to a half.
- You can speedup Adobe Reader even more by removing the copyright splash screen. Open Acrobat Reader, and then go to Edit - Preferences - Startup. Remove the check from the box next to "Display Splash screen" and then click OK.
- Disabling the Auto-Update feature will also make Adobe Reader load more quickly, and may also make it more stable. Open the program and chose Edit - Preferences - Updates. De-select "Show Auto-Update Confirmation Dialog" and "Display notification dialog at startup". Change the "Check for updates" pull-down to "Manually."
Download Adobe Reader
Updated: 5/27/05
Set Default Windows Explorer Directory View in Windows 2000 or XP
Directory folders often open with different appearances in Windows Explorer. This can be annoying if you open several folders regularly. Here's how to make the view consistent when you open a new window in Windows Explorer:
Open Windows Explorer and go to a directory. Set the view for the way that you always want it to be by going to the View menu and selecting one of the display options. Then set the view permanently for all Explorer directory windows:
Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> Like Current Folder (in Windows XP, the last item is "Apply to All Folders")
Use this tweak to remove recently visited URL's from the address bar in IE.
- Run REGEDIT
- Navigate to this Key and delete the values for URLs you want to remove:
- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\ TypedURLs]
- You can also delete Internet Explorer AutoComplete and History from the Internet Options dialog. Go to Tools/Internet Options from IE or open Internet Options from the Control Panel. Clear History on the General tab will remove the items from your History bar and all AutoComplete web address URLs. AutoComplete passwords and Forms can be deleted from the AutoComplete button on the Content tab.
Internet Explorer regularly checks for program updates, instead of going to
the Home page.
You can disable this "feature" by going to Tools, Internet Options menu in IE. Then select
the Advanced tab. Under "Browsing," remove the check mark from the item labeled "Automatically check for Internet Explorer updates." Then click OK.
IE 6: Set new browser windows to open up maximized
- Start Internet Explorer, open a web page, right click any link and select Open in a New Window.
- Go back to the first IE window you opened and close it.
- Return to the second window and manually drag it to fill the screen. (Do not use the maximize button)
- Close this second window, using the close box.
- All IE windows should now open maximized.
|
